A woman with a slender physique walked briskly. Her long hair was neatly braided, and she wore a dark blue uniform adorned with numerous medals on her chest.
Her name was Michelle, and she held the esteemed position of knight, a direct subordinate of the archduke.
In her culture, the name Michelle was typically associated with men. Those who knew her only by name often expressed surprise upon their first meeting. Many questioned how she had achieved such a position as a woman. Thus, Michelle frequently found herself forgotten or openly ignored.
Still, she paid little attention to the opinions of others. In her heart, the woman believed that what mattered was only that her master recognized her abilities. Furthermore, the conversation died down immediately after witnessing Michelle handling her weapons with mastery.
Like everyone else, Michelle wanted someone to notice her and appreciate her.
That someone, of course, would be, first and foremost, his master. The second would be none other than Eileen.
Michelle met her when the girl was still a child, working as a maid in Cesare's palace. Eileen was only ten years old at the time, with chubby cheeks and a shrill gait wherever she went. The overwhelming cuteness was too much for the knights to handle.
Michelle watched her blossom into the beauty she is today. Just remembering her childhood, her shy smiles and rings made of wildflowers, filled her soul with affection.
To her, Eileen was like a daughter, or a little sister whom she helped raise with all her heart. The other knights and soldiers who served under the Archduke shared this sentiment. Eileen was loved by all and cherished as if she were one of their own.
Where is Eileen?
Michelle questioned them as soon as she spotted Lotan and Diego in the banquet hall. When Michelle heard that Eileen was at the banquet, she rushed to get there, but unfortunately, she arrived too late.
Diego chuckled softly as he watched Michelle pacing anxiously back and forth, searching for Eileen. Lotan, though he seemed stoic at first glance, couldn't hide the slight twitch at the corner of his lips.
Hey, you two…
Michelle's impatience was evident as she nudged them.
— You invited her to dance? Without including me?
Diego crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow in response.
What did you expect? You should have hurried.
— … Oh, damn it. You bastards.
With a bitter curse, Michelle's shoulders slumped, her freckles almost seeming to fall away with her sad expression. Her voice wavered with a hint of despair.
"You bastards have no loyalty. I specifically asked you to reserve a dance with her for me."
The poor subordinates were eager to ask the young lady to dance, who are we to stop them?
You should have put my name instead of yours!
Come on, be aware.
While Diego and Michelle argued, Lotan glanced quickly at the wall clock. It was time for the two of them to return from the greenhouse; they were later than expected. With His Majesty the Emperor's arrival, being late would be unforgivable.
Let's wait another 5 minutes.
Keeping his deadline in mind, Lotan intervened, separating Diego and Michelle, who were still grumbling.
And what about Senon?
It's not over yet. It looks like it won't be finished today.
Michele responded with pursed lips. Acknowledging that her lateness was due to work, Diego tried to offer comfort in a softer tone.
Hey, you gave it your all.
Go fuck yourself.
— …
Diego, feeling disheartened that his efforts to console her had failed, looked at Lotan with a hurt expression. But Lotan couldn't side with Diego either, as he proudly maintained his position for the third dance with Eileen.
Lotan, feigning a cough for no reason, tried to lighten the mood by suggesting that everyone go to Eileen's house later.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the banquet hall.
The sudden noise shattered the serene atmosphere of soft music and quiet conversation. The startled guests quickly identified the source and let out screams of terror.
Bursting through the doors of the banquet hall, today's protagonist, Cesare, made a dramatic entrance.
Covered in blood, he walked down the corridor, leaving red stains on the immaculate marble floor with each step. Drops of blood fell in his wake.
Her red eyes gleamed beneath the chandelier, revealing the thrill of the previous carnage.
Cesare's presence overwhelmed the Empire's aristocrats, whose greatest hunting successes were typically small forest creatures. The sight made it difficult for them to breathe. Some time later they realized that the man was not alone.
Cesare held the hand of a young woman as he entered, his face drained of color. She appeared to be more in custody than under escort. Nevertheless, the archduke handled her with the utmost courtesy.
The young woman, dressed in a peculiar manner, wore an elegant and modern dress that followed the latest trends.
But her face, hidden by her bangs, framed by glasses, without any trace of makeup and with her hair pulled back, exuded an old-fashioned feel not seen in a decade.
Those who were inwardly surprised by her identity remembered her as the daughter of a bankrupt nobleman who had been surrounded by the archduke's soldiers earlier.
However, they found themselves unable to mock her as freely as before, restrained by the archduke's firm grip on their hand.
Cesare stopped in the center of the banquet hall with the lady by his side, silently looking around the room. His penetrating gaze fixed on the nobles of the council.
Those who met his gaze seemed to turn to stone statues. After a moment of silence, Cesare spoke with a sigh.
— I appreciate your intentions to congratulate me on my victory, but…
Running his hand through his blood-soaked hair, he asked:
Isn't that a bit excessive?
There was no immediate response. The room fell into a silence so palpable that even a trickle of cold sweat could be heard. Cesare, seemingly taking advantage of the cold atmosphere, offered a weak smile.
I am well aware of your sincere intentions, so I will reciprocate in kind soon.
He declared with a cool demeanor and a dazzling smile:
You can expect that.
With that, Cesare turned and left, the archduke's soldiers following him as an escort. Even after they had all left the banquet hall, a long silence remained.
***
It happened when Eileen was eleven years old and Cesare was eighteen.
That particular afternoon, Eileen and Cesare indulged in tea within the serene confines of the Prince's palace garden. Eileen eagerly shared her newfound knowledge of the Great Encyclopedia of Plants, a gift bestowed upon her by Cesare himself.
In the midst of her lively explanation about gymnosperms and angiosperms, a maid appeared with a second cup of dried calendula tea, a floral tea known for its healing properties.
Eileen prepared to take a sip when Cesare gently intervened to stop her.
Eileen.
Cesare's voice was soft as he grasped her wrist and ordered her to put down the teacup.
Eileen tilted her head in confusion at Cesare's interruption. The young man offered her a biscuit before instructing the servant to drink the tea.
Drink.
The servant's expression plummeted instantly, his body trembling as if struck by a sudden chill, and he fell to his knees in despair.
Your Highness…!
The servant pleaded for mercy, but Cesare, impassive, merely smiled at her.
— I ordered you to drink the tea.
There was an eerie calmness in Cesare's voice as he continued.
I didn't ask you to apologize.
Despair clouded the servant's eyes as she hesitated to obey. With Cesare's knights standing still, the tea was force-fed, leaving the servant convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
When the ordeal was over, Cesare ordered his men to take the incapacitated servant girl away. Turning to Eileen, he casually remarked:
It seems our tea has gone bad. Would you like a biscuit instead?
Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, Eileen held the biscuit in her hand, her mind racing. Despite Cesare's expectant gaze, she remained frozen, speechless…
Finally, tears welled up in Eileen's eyes, much to Cesare's panic. He tried to comfort her, aware of the distress he had unintentionally caused.
What happened that day was a distressing incident between two people who were still learning about each other's world.
From a young age, Cesare adapted well to the murderous nature of the Imperial Palace. Poisoning attempts became so frequent that they almost seemed like a task to manage.
Of course, this was a daily occurrence for most members of the Imperial family. To eliminate potential successors, they adopted a kill-or-be-killed mentality. Even Cesare's eldest brother, the weakest among them, never hesitated in such events.
This reminded him of when he was Eileen's age, so he immediately condemned that servant. He wanted to spare little Eileen any future suffering; the servant's death was not depicted. The girl was shocked when her world was turned upside down.
Until that day, Eileen was convinced that Cesare was an angel who had lost his wings.
Despite his inhuman appearance, he was always kind. Besides delicious snacks, he often gave her books she wanted to read. More importantly, he enjoyed her stories about plants that no one else was interested in.
In Eileen's small world, Cesare was a good and just god.
After living with that unwavering belief for so long, it broke when she realized he was a demon. This revelation left Eileen so shaken that she was bedridden. Weak and trembling, it took a long time for her shocked body to recover.
When she finally awoke, after enduring what seemed like an eternity of turmoil, Cesare invited Eileen to the Imperial Palace. The letter sent by her mother was full of comforting words, even mentioning that he would understand if she never wished to visit him again.
Eileen held the Prince's letter in her arms and thought about it for a while.
If she refused the invitation, Cesare would clearly sever their relationship. Their paths would never cross again.
But Eileen couldn't bring herself to leave the Prince. Without him, she feared no one would ever hear her stories again.
There was a tug-of-war raging in her heart between feelings of fear and loneliness. The winner was decided quickly, and Eileen began to invent excuses for Cesare in her mind.
'That servant was a murderer. There's nothing I can do.'
The method of execution was cruel, but he was the first one who almost committed a crime! The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart grew. The prince's indifference made her want to protect him even more! Living in a world like that… It must be lonely.
So Eileen returned to Cesare. After this riddle, Cesare refused to show his cruel side in front of her again.
I was just as foolish then as I am now.
The thought was bittersweet. Eileen continued to mechanically push her scrambled eggs before eating them.
To think that she told Cesare to flee after finding the assassins in the palace greenhouse, saying it would be a distraction to give him time to escape…
All she got in return was a request to close her eyes, smile, and maybe even sing a song for him.
"Just one song will be enough."
Eileen still couldn't understand Cesare's antics, but she obeyed nonetheless. Cesare simply laughed when she began to sing the national anthem.
But soon, her pleasant voice faded and was replaced by a terrifying sound. There was a deathly silence before Eileen could finish her first verse.
— You can open your eyes now, Eileen.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Eileen obeyed. Although her vision was blurry, she could see Cesare covered in blood, clicking his tongue in disapproval.
Why didn't you say anything before, since you were so scared?
Removing his blood-soaked leather gloves, Cesare gently wiped away her tears in a whisper, but firm.
You don't need to protect me, understand?
Eileen's sadness seemed endless, but she still nodded. With that, she was led back to the banquet hall.
Cesare never let go of her hand. In the hall, her beloved spoke gently to her. She was so lost that she couldn't register a single word. All she could remember was Michelle escorting her back home.
The victory celebration banquet was ruined. The only silver lining to the mess was that she wasn't forced to dance.
To be continued….